USEFUL INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION

HEALTH

It is essential to have health insurance in Brazil, as hospital and medical fees are high. For most regions of the country, including Iguassu, you don't need to worry about vaccinations.

YELLOW FEVER VACCINE

For those tourists who are coming from countries such as Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, French Guiana, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leon, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire - an International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required.

The yellow fever vaccine is also recommended for all national and international tourists who intend to visit the following Brazilian states: Acre, Amazonas, Amapa, Brasilia, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Roraima and Tocantins.
Do not forget: it is necessary to take the vaccination at least ten days prior to leaving on your trip.

SAFETY TIPS

One of the urban myths that surrounds Brazil and can put people off a visit is the question of safety and security. In fact, Brazil, including the main cities of Rio, Salvador and São Paulo, is no more dangerous than anywhere in Europe or North America and violent crimes against tourists or foreign visitors are extremely rare, hence the headlines if they do happen. Brazil is also politically stable with no natural enemies and no terrorist activities.

Safety First: Dos and Don‘ts

Don‘t....
* leave your bag unattended.
* put your wallet in your back pocket or the outside pocket of a bag.
* walk in unlit areas at night.
* wear flashy jewellery in the street, even if it is fake.
* take more than you need to the beach.

Do....
* put your money, passport and ticket in the safe deposit box of your hotel.
* take cabs rather than buses.
* ask policemen for help if you need it.
* ask your hotel for information. They know most of the answers.
* call on your Consulate for help if you have a serious problem.

Foreign Exchange

To exchange currencies, most people use foreign exchange bureaus, or Cambios, which can be found in shopping centers and also down town. The rates can sometimes vary from one place to the next but in general the difference is not that great.

VISA

Visa to enter in Brazil is required for foreign nationals of some countries. EU citizens usually do not need a visa to travel to Brazil. Please, check at a Brazilian consulate or embassy, in your country, if a visa is required for you. If necessary, the visa should be issued at your country of origin.

If you need an official letter of invitation to speed up the process for obtaining a Visa we will be glad to provide you one, although this is not usually necessary.

The Visa Request form must be filled out for all of the following countries – regardless of the type of passport and the purpose of the trip -, before departure from their home country

Afghanistan
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Arab Emirates
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bosnia
Botswana
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Cyprus
Democr Rep of Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
East Timor
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji Islands
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Granada
Guinea
Haiti
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati Islands
Kuwait
Kyrgyz
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives Islands
Mali
Malta
Mariana Islands
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius Islands
Micronesia
Moldavia
Mongolia
Myanmar/Burma
Nauru
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine Authority
Papua/New Guinea
Qatar
Rwanda
St Christopher-Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles Islands
Sierra Leon
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Sri Lanka
St. Lucia
Sudan
Swaziland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu Islands
Uganda
United States
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Western Samoa
Yemen
Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro
Zambia
Zimbabwe.